5.
The next morning.
Although Judith had recalled her past life, she had still lived in this world for twenty years. By now, she had reached a point where very little could truly surprise her.
However…
*I’m crazy. Truly crazy.*
Stepping into the Mayous Ducal Mansion, she felt the air thicken in her lungs.
*How can it be this grand? This magnificent…*
Every stride felt overwhelming. The polished marble floors caught the light like mirrors, massive, heavy tapestries draped over every wall, and the intricate stained glass cast vibrant, shifting hues across the foyer.
As a Baroness, she was no stranger to the homes of the nobility, but she had never imagined a residence of such staggering scale. It was no wonder this house was hailed as second only to the Imperial Family.
“Greetings, Baroness.”
The butler intercepted her before she could drift further. Informed by the gatekeeper of her arrival, he wore a mask of professional, unwavering courtesy.
“I apologize, but I am aware that you do not have an appointment.”
Judith blinked. She hadn’t expected a seamless entry, nor was the Duchess the type of woman a minor noble could meet on a whim.
If she had sent a letter, it would likely have been discarded, leaving her no choice but to arrive unannounced at the first light of day.
*Even if she has a busy schedule, she’ll be at the mansion in the morning.*
The Duke was currently away inspecting the duchy. It was the perfect window to negotiate with the Duchess alone. The Duke was famously devoted to his wife; if the Duchess gave her word, the Duke would undoubtedly uphold it.
It had been the same in the original story. Upon the Duke’s return, the Duchess had been the first to suggest: “How about we have a maid pretend to be pregnant with Ekian’s child? That should buy us at least a few months.”
“Yes, that’s right. I know it was rude of me to show up like this,” Judith said, meeting the butler’s gaze with calm composure. “However, I came because I must see the Duchess. It concerns Young Duke Ekian Mayous.”
The butler’s eyes sharpened. His polite veneer chilled into a warning.
“Baroness, the topic of the Young Duke is an absolute taboo in this mansion. It could lead to a great reward, but otherwise… it could incur great wrath.”
He was blunt: mentioning ‘Ekian Mayous’ would grant her an audience, but if she were offering lies or hollow excuses, the consequences would be severe.
“You can just tell the Duchess this,” Judith said, smiling brightly. She didn’t flinch. “Tell her that I know Ekian used to be unable to eat pomegranates when he was young.”
The butler stared at her, stunned, before bowing his head. “I will show you to the parlor. Please wait.”
* * *
Ekian couldn’t eat pomegranates when he was a child. There was no grand reason; it was just a childish quirk. He simply found the sight of them grotesque. Once he passed his mid-teens, he began eating them without a second thought.
It was a useless, trivial detail—the sort of thing only family would know.
*It’s mentioned in the original novel when the villain recalls his older brother while looking at a pomegranate.*
Now that she thought about it, the villain—the second son of this house—must be somewhere in this mansion right now.
In the story, he had wept, *‘If only my brother were here, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.’* Yet, Ekian never appeared. Even if Judith stayed here as his fake wife for a few months, he likely wouldn’t return.
As she drifted in thought, the rhythmic clack of heels echoed against the marble.
A gorgeous, middle-aged woman appeared, her platinum blonde hair swept into an intricate style adorned with jewels. Judith immediately rose and performed a precise, deep curtsy.
“I greet the Duchess of Mayous.”
“Please, make yourself comfortable, Baroness Aylan.”
As they sat, maids swarmed the table with tea and refreshments. Each was perfectly poised, yet Judith found her throat too dry to swallow anything. This was a vital turning point. She had spent three years waiting for this exact moment.
“I found the story about the pomegranate quite interesting,” the Duchess began, her voice cool and composed. “To cut to the chase, you said you had something to tell me.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I trust you know that we are quite desperate regarding Ekian. Speak.”
“Yes.” Judith rested her hands on her knees, projecting as much confidence as she could muster. “If you remove the brick at the head of the bed in the room the Young Duke used to occupy, you will find a small space. Inside, there is a letter he wrote to his parents in his childhood.”
The Duchess’s complexion paled instantly. She rang a silver bell with trembling fingers.
“Remove the brick at the head of Ekian’s bed at once.”
Judith waited in silence. Before long, a maid returned with a tattered, yellowed piece of paper. The Duchess’s hands shook as she took it.
*It’s where the villain finds it later, but since it wasn’t important to the plot, I might as well use it here.*
She remembered the letter’s content: it was standard, warm, and sweet, thanking his parents for raising him and wishing them happiness.
*They were such a loving family. Why did Ekian Mayous run away?*
That was a mystery even Judith couldn’t solve. She had never known the warmth of a loving family; she had stayed at her parents’ house until the end, trapped in their indifference until she inherited their crushing debts. Perhaps she would never understand Ekian.
To Judith, the Mayous family was an alien, opulent world, and Ekian was a man beyond her comprehension.
The Duchess wiped away tears, her eyes red as she looked up.
“Baroness, how on earth did you know this? Have you met Ekian? Where is he?” The Duchess’s voice was desperate, her breath hitching. “If you can let me see Ekian just one more time, our Mayous Ducal House will do anything for you.”
Judith stared at her. It was fascinating to see such a noble, cold woman reduced to such raw, human desperation.
“I…” Judith’s voice cracked. “While I know that information, I know other things as well.”
“What is it? What on earth is it? Speak!”
“It’s about what the Duchess is thinking right now.”
“…What?”
“The plan you are formulating to temporarily prevent his death certificate from being filed.”
The Duchess froze. Judith continued, her tone steady.
“I believe the Duchess needs time to investigate me. I will visit again in two days. We can discuss it further then.”
To lay out all her cards today would be foolish. The Duchess needed to perform a background check; once she discovered Judith’s crushing debts, she would understand exactly why Judith was proposing this deal without a single word being exchanged.
“Then let us meet in two days,” the Duchess said slowly. “I will clear my morning schedule.”
“Thank you.”
Judith bowed politely and took her leave.
* * *
*Phew, that was intense. The pressure was no joke.*
Judith staggered toward her small boarding house. Because she had visited the ducal mansion so early, the morning was still young, yet the alleyway was in complete chaos.
“Did you hear? They say there were tons of bombs there!”
“The whole alley nearly got blown to bits if they hadn’t been careful!”
People were whispering in huddled groups—the obvious fallout of the information she had given the Master yesterday.
*As expected, the Master handled it perfectly,* Judith thought with a quiet, satisfied smile.
Now, everyone in this alley had survived. She, the female lead, the extras, the guild members—they were all safe. She had prevented a disaster.
As she smiled to herself, a tall young man wearing a mask stepped out from the shadows of the alley.
“Lady Aylan.”
She recognized him instantly. She grinned, looking up at him.
“Master?”
“I was waiting for you,” he said softly.
“Where have you been since this morning?”
“Ah, the Mayous Ducal Mansion.”
“Excuse me? What business did you have there…”
“It’s a secret, but I figured you’d find out soon enough anyway, so I’ll tell you in advance,” Judith said cheerfully. “I’m thinking of getting married into that family.”
The Master began to cough violently.
Lmao